The Sanskrit term Mṛgacakra can be transliterated into English as Mrgacakra or Mrigacakra, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).

Alternative spellings of this word include Mrigachakra.

In Hinduism

Jyotisha (astronomy and astrology)

Source: Wisdom Library: Jyotiṣa

Mṛgacakra (मृगचक्र) refers to the “circle of deer” and is the name of the fourteenth chapter of the Gārgīyajyotiṣa. It is similar to the 91th chapter of Vārahamihira’s work known as the Bṛhatsaṃhitā. The Gārgīyajyotiṣa is one of the most comprehensive of Garga’s texts and written in the form of a dialogue between Krauṣṭuki (Ṛṣiputra) and Garga discussing astral and other omens, comprising a total of sixty-two chapters (viz., mṛga-cakra), known as aṅgas and summarized in the Aṅgasamuddiśa (“enumeration of the divisions”, introductory portion).

Source: Wisdom Library: Brihat Samhita by Varahamihira

Mṛgacakra (मृगचक्र) refers to “(prediction of future events from) phenomena connected with the deer”, according to the Bṛhatsaṃhitā (chapter 2), an encyclopedic Sanskrit work written by Varāhamihira mainly focusing on the science of ancient Indian astronomy astronomy (Jyotiṣa).—Accordingly, “A true Astrologer is also one who has thoroughly mastered the Science of Saṃhitā. [...] It treats of indradhvaja, of the rainbow and of architecture; of the prediction of events from casual words and gestures and from the cawing of crows; of the formation of zodiacal circles for purposes of horary astrology. It treats of the prediction of future events from phenomena connected with the deer [i.e., mṛgacakra], the dog and the motions of the wind; of the construction of temples, towers and palaces; of the casting of images and of founding the same; of the growth of plants and trees; of under currents; of certain annual ceremonies to be performed by princes for success in war. [...]”.

context information

Jyotisha (ज्योतिष, jyotiṣa or jyotish) refers to ‘astronomy’ or “Vedic astrology” and represents the fifth of the six Vedangas (additional sciences to be studied along with the Vedas). Jyotisha concerns itself with the study and prediction of the movements of celestial bodies, in order to calculate the auspicious time for rituals and ceremonies.

Languages of India and abroad

Sanskrit dictionary

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Edgerton Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Dictionary

Mṛgacakra (मृगचक्र).—nt., the zodiac: °kraṃ Divyāvadāna 630.20 (in a list of things studied by brahmans; followed by nakṣatra- gaṇo); mṛgacakrāṅkavidyā- Gaṇḍavyūha 451.3; mṛgacakra-lipi, a kind of writing (the symbols for the signs of the zodiac?), Lalitavistara 126.3 (Tibetan translates literally).

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Mṛgacakra (मृगचक्र):—[=mṛga-cakra] [from mṛga > mṛg] n. the zodiac (?), [Divyāvadāna]

context information

Sanskrit, also spelled संस्कृतम् (saṃskṛtam), is an ancient language of India commonly seen as the grandmother of the Indo-European language family (even English!). Closely allied with Prakrit and Pali, Sanskrit is more exhaustive in both grammar and terms and has the most extensive collection of literature in the world, greatly surpassing its sister-languages Greek and Latin.

See also (Relevant definitions)

Partial matches: Mriga, Cakra.

Relevant text

Search found 1 books and stories containing Mrigacakra, Mṛgacakra, Mriga-cakra, Mṛga-cakra, Mrgacakra, Mrga-cakra; (plurals include: Mrigacakras, Mṛgacakras, cakras, Mrgacakras). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:

Sutrakritanga (English translation) (by Hermann Jacobi)

Lecture 2: On Activity < [Book 2]

show preview